The largest Shadow demon with red eyes she recognized fell upon Kahssiel. With a swipe of its claws, he lost hold of his divine blade. His hands flared with Seraph flame, but the Shadow slashed at him. The blow tossed him, and he crashed into a dead tree. Groaning, Kahssiel slumped against the roots, wincing in pain. Some of his wings hung at odd angles. They were broken. His wounds struggled to heal.
All around him, Seraphs continued to fall.
The air was ripe with sulfur and blood. With death and hopelessness.
They were going to lose the war, and Kahssiel knew it.
A soft sigh passed through his bloodied lips as he pushed himself back on his feet.
“If I am to fall here … so be it.” He smiled wryly at the skies churning with black clouds. “But let it not be this day.”
His eyes flared blue, and he gritted his teeth as he faced off with the Shadow demon. It charged for him with a roar. Kahssiel roared back, Seraph fire engulfing his fists. Ready to fight. Ready to die. Here was his last stand.
A blast of green power erupted between them. The powerful blast knocked Kahssiel to the ground.
The Shadow screeched as it was thrown across the battlefield with streaming remnants of green stars.
The roots of the dead tree blazed, and from it sprang a new magnificent tree. One made of pure white light and leaves like glass. It cast its brilliance across the battlefield like a blazing sun, and the demons fled from its light.
Seraphs rejoiced and cried out to the Heavens, thankingElyonfor this miracle.
But Kahssiel stayed on the ground, gaping up in awe at the young woman in armor standing beside him. The wind whipped her dark brown hair around her face.
Dyna’s face.
Her green eyes, glowing with magic, met his, and she scowled. “Are you attempting to lose your head, or is there simply nothing in it? Stupid Seraph.”
She ran off into the throng.
“Wait!” he called, staring after her with a dumbfounded look on his face. “What is your name?”
Was it possible to fall in love at first sight?
Such a thing begged to question as Kahssiel was enthralled by the human who had saved his life. Once he learned Sheli’s name, he invited her into his circle of generals. For her power, Kahssiel said, but he and Dyna both knew it was because she intrigued him.
In their time together, Sheli became his emissary with the humans, fortifying his army with more allies. Her influence encouraged him to establish the first Valkyrie. She found a way for his smiths to forge divine steel for their armor that could protect them when Kahssiel unleashed his Seraph fire. Later called Skath metal, Dyna realized.
Sheli rode with Kahssiel to battle on the Pegasi, and they fought side by side during the Dark War. They learned how to combine their fire in an ultimate attack that turned the tide against the God of Shadows and his demons.
Dyna’s heart swelled as she watched them argue with each other, protect each other, and fall completely in love. Even if they never said it aloud.
They were made for each other.
Together, they banished the darkness and brought forth the sun.
The dream smoke brought Dyna to that sameHyalustree during the golden hour. She at last recognized it as the one she came across in Hilos months ago.
Kahssiel was there. The gentle breeze tugged at his white robes, his pearlescent wings catching the light. Gold-spun hair shadowed his face as he silently faced the tree.
Dejection contorted his features as he asked, “You wish to leave?”
Behind him, Sheli clutched her arm to herself, dropping her gaze to the ground. Her gown was woven from all shades of gold. “I should return to Magos with my family. There is nothing for me here.”
“You are one of my generals.Ineed you here.”
“The war is over, Kahssiel.” Her eyes filled with tears, though her voice remained steady. “And so is our time together. Now you must live your life. Be a king and rule your people. I should be with mine.” She looked away. “Allow me this, and I will grant you anything. Whatever wealth or favor, I’ll do it.”
But he didn’t answer.
